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31 Jul 2010
that is all
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31 Jul 2010
Clare Balding took offense to the tone of AA Gills remarks about her while reviewing one of her shows in his TV column in the Sunday Times, and complained to the editor. His response is a lot more offensive than Gill's original review, and she has now lodged a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission.
In his review Gill wrote:
Some time ago, I made a cheap and frankly unnecessary joke about Clare Balding looking like a big lesbian. And afterwards somebody tugged my sleeve to point out that she is a big lesbian, and I felt foolish and guilty. So I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise. Sorry.
Now back to the dyke on a bike, puffing up the nooks and crannies at the bottom end of the nation.
When Balding complained to the paper's editor, his response included:
In my view some members of the gay community need to stop regarding themselves as having a special victim status and behave like any other sensible group that is accepted by society. Not having a privileged status means, of course, one must accept occasionally being the butt of jokes . A person's sexuality should not give them a protected status. Jeremy Clarkson, perhaps the epitome of the heterosexual male, is constantly jeered at for his dress sense (lack of), adolescent mind-set and hair style. He puts up with it as a presenter's lot and in this context I hardly think that AA Gill's remarks were particularly cruel, especially as he ended by so warmly endorsing you as a presenter.
As you might imagine, this provoked an angry response from Balding:
When the day comes that people stop resigning from high office, being disowned by their families, getting beaten up and in some instances committing suicide because of their sexuality, you may have a point.
This is not about me putting up with having the piss taken out of me, something I have been quite able to withstand, it is about you legitimising name calling. ‘Dyke' is not shouted out in school playgrounds (or as I've had it at an airport) as a compliment, believe me.
It may be your job to defend your writer and your editorial team but if you really think that homophobia does not exist and was not demonstrated beyond being ‘the butt of a joke' then we have a problem.
Or as she commented elsewhere:
For God's sake, would he seriously review Stephen Fry presenting QI as a faggot or Evan Davis on Dragons Den as a queer?
Overview HERE, and the Guardian reports HERE.
(Note: Part of Balding's complaint is about Gill's use of the word "dyke" in a derogatory way. Obviously I use the word "dyke" all the time on this blog, but as with all these things, context is everything. I use it because to me, and in my usage, it's strong, and powerful, and used with warmth. In the same way that "homosexual" can often seem too clinical for casual banter amongst ourselves, so too can "lesbian". I like "dyke". It's unapologetic. However, as used by Gill, it's definitely meant to be demeaning. Taken with the tone of his prior remarks, and then following with "puffing up the nooks and crannies at the bottom end of the nation". It's a cheap shot.)
dykes
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tv
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media
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feuds
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31 Jul 2010
If, like me, you spend too much time trawling around the internet, you may have already seen the American baby preacher who spoke "in tongues" at church, much to the delight of the congregation. It's weird and cute at the same time, so it got two thumbs up from the internet.
Now, someone fun has gone to the trouble of subtitling it. I know you shouldn't say things like this about a baby, but turns out he (she?) is an idiot. He's not making any sense at all. Sheesh! Back to preacher school kid! Stupid baby.
Kidding! As rabid Christians go, he's adorable. Well, until he's old enough to start shouting abuse at Pride parades and smearing shit on the local gay's front door.
religion poisons everything
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kids
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31 Jul 2010
Which will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who watched even a minute of that show. Still, it is a sign of how much things have changed that a young teen-popster can come out at the beginning of his career. Though whether he actually has a career ahead of him is still to be seen. Though he'll definitely be playing a gay bar near you in 5, 4, 3, 2...
Apparently he's done interviews with number of papers which will be out over the weekend.
Here's The Mirror's story.
And here's little Joe's statement to his fans.
gays
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people
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30 Jul 2010
I will be performing excerpts from my three theatre shows next Wednesday, August 4th, at 2:30 pm in Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin, and we are looking for an audience. The performance will be filmed. If you are free next Wednesday afternoon, and would like to come along, click HERE and r.s.v.p.
Tickets are free obviously, and we would appreciate it very much. There are only 100 tickets, so if you really would like to come along, don't dawdle! More info at the link.
UPDATE: If you're not on Facebook, you can RSVP to ailish@blinder.ie if you are interested.
panti
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performance
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30 Jul 2010
that is all
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30 Jul 2010
Yes apparently. Statistically speaking anyway.
And before you write off this study as superficial bigotry, it actually makes a lot of sense. As this article says:
The authors note previous work showing how more attractive people are more successful in their careers and earn more. This puts less attractive people at a disadvantage in the world of work and nudges them towards criminal alternatives. In addition, less attractive people suffer socially, make fewer friends and build less of what the authors call "human capital". They are therefore not as sympathetic to others and have less of an investment in society. This effect is far more pronounced in females, suggesting that they are judged on their appearance to a much greater degree.
The message seems to be that ugly people need a bit less condemnation and a bit more understanding. But that finding lacks the popular appeal of saying that they're all criminals and should be locked up, and so is probably doomed to be added to the file of Damned science.
ideas
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crime
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30 Jul 2010
Russian photographer Sergey Larenkov revisits the sites of old WWII photographs, rephotographs them, and then combines the two. Some are more successful than others, but there are many to look at. He's been busy.
photography
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art
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30 Jul 2010
Jose Luis Navarro and Miguel Angel Calefato, who have been together for 27 years, became the first couple to marry under Argentina's new gay marriage legislation.
Sweet, right, and just.
marriage equality
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world
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30 Jul 2010
... and poke it till it explodes!
Weird sea creature, or totally fake? Make up your own minds.
(thanks Sean)
animals
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weird
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